38 Vegetarian Entrees for the Grill

June 20, 2011
Photo: Stephen Devries; Styling: Lynn Nesmith
No meat? No problem. Fire up the grill and make one of these grilled vegetarian dishes instead. Veggies and plant-based products like tofu pair perfectly with grilled food’s smokiness, as evidenced by all these meatless grilled options. Whether you’re grilling eggplant, tofu, a meatless pizza, skewers, or vegetable platters, these recipes are a guaranteed hit for vegetarians and omnivores alike. 
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Veggie Grilled Pizza

Photo: Romulo Yanes; Styling: Philippa Brathwaite
Veggie Grilled Pizza Recipe
Bring out the best in smoky grilled vegetables by pairing them with an unexpected flavor partner: fresh mint. This pizza, loaded with fresh summer veggies, earned outstanding reviews as a main dish. Cut the pie into smaller slices for appetizer portions.
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Grilled Eggplant with Freekeh Pilaf

Photo: Tru Studio
Grilled Eggplant with Freekeh Pilaf Recipe
Pomegranate molasses brings tartness, and the feta adds a salty finish to this hearty side dish.

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Grilled Halloumi Pitas

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Kevin Crafts
Grilled Halloumi Pitas Recipe
The saltiness of halloumi cheese is a good balance for the smoky-tasting grilled peppers in this pita sandwich. Be careful not to cut the cheese too thin, or it will be hard to work with on the grill
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Grilled Tofu with Ratatouille Vegetables

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Cindy Barr
Grilled Tofu with Ratatouille Vegetables Recipe
Introduce tofu to the grill with this easy, veggie-heavy recipe. The tofu and veggies grill together, brushed evenly with a vibrant orange juice marinade, making the dish a breeze to prepare and a cinch to clean up after.

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Grilled Farmers’ Market Sandwiches

Photo: John Autry; Styling: Leigh Ann Ross
Grilled Farmers’ Market Sandwiches Recipe
Are you ready for the best sandwich you’ve ever tasted? Celebrate the rich flavors of summer by stacking delicious ciabatta bread with hearty portions of grilled, zucchini, red onion, basil, eggplant, and tomato. Top with provolone and prepare for a feast.

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Herbed Penne with Simple Grilled Vegetables

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Jan Gautro
Herbed Penne with Simple Grilled Vegetables Recipe
Leftover charred vegetables and fresh herbs create a simple and satisfying vegetarian entree. For a heartier version, stir in two cups chopped chicken.
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Grilled Eggplant Provolone

Photo: James Baigrie
Grilled Eggplant Provolone Recipe
For an elegant alfresco dinner that’s still easy on the prep time, make a main dish featuring grilled eggplant topped with melted provolone cheese. Top with grilled salsa and pair with a small green salad for a pleasing summer dinner in about 30 minutes.

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Grilled Vegetable Salad

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Jan Gautro
Grilled Vegetable Salad Recipe
Salads are always a hit in summer; they’re easy to make, full of fresh flavor, and don’t heat up the kitchen. Top your mixed salad greens with smoky grilled vegetables to add depth of flavor and a texture contrast for your palate. Top with a pistachio vinaigrette and crumbled goat cheese for extra richness.

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Ginger-Sesame Grilled Tofu Steaks

Becky Luigart-Stayner
Ginger-Sesame Grilled Tofu Steaks Recipe
All you need to complete this meal is a side of steamed snow peas, sugar snap peas, or asparagus. Draining the tofu on paper towels helps it absorb more marinade and ensures maximum flavor when it hits the grill.
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Grilled Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms

Oxmoor House
Grilled Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms Recipe
Stuffed mushrooms are always a crowd pleaser. We suggest filling yours with a robust mixture of spinach, garlic, oregano, and Parmesan cheese and serving the caps with a small summer salad. Enjoy this dish outside while you savor the slow summer sunsets.

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Grilled Eggplant and Tomato Sandwiches with Roquefort Dressing

Grilled Eggplant and Tomato Sandwiches with Roquefort Dressing Recipe
When grilled to perfection, eggplant peel is slightly crusty--a nice contrast to its tender, moist flesh. Roasted eggplant makes a hearty sandwich when combined with a coarse-textured bread, such as an Italian ciabatta or sourdough.

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Grilled Vegetable Lasagna

Randy Mayor
Grilled Vegetable Lasagna Recipe
Grilling the vegetables deepens their flavors, which makes for a delicious vegetarian entrée. To speed preparation, use no-boil lasagna noodles; the baking time remains the same.
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Overstuffed Grilled Vegetable-Feta Sandwiches

Photo: Oxmoor House
Overstuffed Grilled Vegetable-Feta Sandwiches Recipe
Sky-high sandwich stackers provide filling meals that are perfect for picnics or on-the-go summer outings. Grape tomatoes, red onion, and a mix of yellow squash and zucchini star in this easy recipe, which calls for time-saving ingredients including presliced veggies and bottled salad dressing.

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Grilled Tomato-Peach Pizza

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Styling: Missie Neville Crawford
Grilled Tomato-Peach Pizza Recipe
Store-bought pizza dough speeds prep time on this easy summer dish. Pizza provides the perfect opportunity to use festive seasonal toppings. Try sliced peaches; the grill helps them release their natural sweetness, adding a fun zip to the pie. If you haven’t tried fresh-from-the-grill pizza before, prepare to be wowed.

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Mediterranean Grilled Vegetable Tagine

Photo: Karry Hosford
Mediterranean Grilled Vegetable Tagine Recipe
Grilled bell peppers and red onion get a hearty flavor infusion from a short stint in a vinegar-and-olive-oil marinade before hitting the grill for a quick roast. The grilled veggies, served over couscous, add smoky flavor to this Mediterranean-inspired main dish meal.
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Grilled Eggplant Naan Wraps with Tahini-Yogurt Dressing

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Kevin Crafts
Grilled Eggplant Naan Wraps with Tahini-Yogurt Dressing Recipe
A delicious way to complement the rich flavor of grilled eggplant is by adding a tangy tahini-yogurt sauce. Tahini, sesame paste, adds a Asian-inspired flavor and transports this easy dinner dish to a delightfully tasty status.

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Grilled Vegetables with Yogurt-Tahini Sauce

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Kellie Gerber Kelley
Grilled Vegetables with Yogurt-Tahini Sauce Recipe
Serve a pick-up style dinner by loading a pretty party platter with freshly grilled summer veggies such as tomatoes, button mushrooms, radicchio, and eggplant. Pair with a tangy dipping sauce and let guests help themselves to this meatless main.

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Vietnamese Lettuce Rolls with Spicy Grilled Tofu

Photography: Becky-Stayner; Styling: Melanie J. Clarke
Vietnamese Lettuce Rolls with Spicy Grilled Tofu Recipe
Bring Asian-inspired flavor to the table. Grilled firm tofu adds robust flavor to crisp lettuce wraps. Let the kids know they’ll be eating “lettuce tacos” tonight; they'll be thrilled!
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Grilled Vegetables with Potato Cakes

Photo: Oxmoor House
Grilled Vegetables with Potato Cakes Recipe
Serve a stacker of a main dish by loading homemade potato cakes with smoky grilled vegetables. Use a jarred fire-roasted tomato and garlic pasta sauce to save time and add rich flavor.

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Grilled Polenta with Tomatoes and White Beans

Oxmoor House
Grilled Polenta with Tomatoes and White Beans Recipe
Nothing beats the smoky flavor from the grill, especially when you’re bringing out the rich flavor of polenta. The grilled polenta adds depth to an easy summer salad, prepared with cannellini beans and chopped fresh rosemary.

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Grilled Pizza with Smoked Tofu and Roasted Red Peppers

Photography: Randy Mayor; Styling: Lydia DeGaris-Pursell
Grilled Pizza with Smoked Tofu and Roasted Red Peppers Recipe
With its firm texture, smoked tofu shreds easily and replaces some of the cheese that traditionally tops pizza.
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Grilled Tofu with Peanut Sauce

Antonis Achilleos, Food Styling: Margaret Dickey, Prop Styling: Missie Crawford
Grilled Tofu with Peanut Sauce Recipe

This grilled tofu is super tasty and would satisfy vegetarians and meat eaters alike. Grilling tofu gives the exterior a nice char without altering the taste, while the sauce boasts some seriously good flavor. Dusting on a little brown sugar gives the perfect amount of sweetness. The peanut sauce can be made ahead of time and keeps in the fridge for a week. 

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Grilled Eggplant and Purple Cauliflower Caponata

Grilled Eggplant and Purple Cauliflower Caponata Recipe

Purple cauliflower is becoming more widely available at farmers markets; white cauliflower would also be delicious here.

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Monday Night Grilled Vegetable Platter

Monday Night Grilled Vegetable Platter Recipe

This dish is an easy way to jump-start the week--and cook outside on a summer night. Prep everything the night before to make it come together even more quickly, and serve with warm, crusty bread. This also makes a great communal first course for a party.

Wine pairing: Wente 2015 Eric's Small Lot Unbaked Chardonnay (Livermore Valley, San Francisco Bay; $30)

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Grilled Corn Pasta Salad

Photo courtesy of The Food Gays
Grilled Corn Pasta Salad Recipe

This vibrant, flavor-packed summer side dish combines a bounty of favorite seasonal flavors into a single, epic pasta salad. The recipe comes from our friends The Food Gays, and they developed this colorful grilled corn dish as a fresher, brighter alternative to the typical mayo-based pasta salads that often show up a summer parties. Packed with fresh produce and dressed in a light and zippy lemon-mustard vinaigrette, this grilled corn pasta salad is anything but boring. Give it a try at your next summer cookout and enjoy as the compliments pour in. 

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Mediterranean Grilled Pizza

Mediterranean Grilled Pizza Recipe

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Grilled Tomato, Onion, and Olive Salad

Photography: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Anna Hampton; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine
Grilled Tomato, Onion, and Olive Salad Recipe
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Grilled Lemon-Basil Tofu Burgers

Oxmoor House
Grilled Lemon-Basil Tofu Burgers Recipe

Marinated tofu slices acquire a golden crust when grilled; the olive-garlic mayonnaise on the sandwich adds a Mediterranean flavor. Serve with grilled asparagus.

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Grilled Four-Onion Pizzas

Photo: Greg Dupree; Styling: Audrey Davis 
Grilled Four-Onion Pizzas Recipe

This pizza showcases the best of the allium family--from the sharp top notes of fresh chives to the deep flavors of sautéed leeks.

Wine pairing: Priest Ranch 2015 Grenache Blanc (Napa Valley; $22).

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Grilled Cabbage Salad

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen
Grilled Cabbage Salad Recipe

When chopped cabbage meets grill, a beautiful thing happens. Once you fire this simple summer side, you'll start to wonder what other fresh veggies you can toss on the barbecue for your next cookout.

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Ultimate Grilled Tomato Sandwiches

Photo: Kelsey Hansen; Food Styling Karen Ranken; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis
Ultimate Grilled Tomato Sandwiches Recipe

Toasty bread, juicy tomatoes, melty cheese, and smoky bacon—what’s not to love? These decadent grilled sandwiches are the perfect place to put your ripe summer tomatoes, and pair beautifully with a light, refreshing summer soup. While you could certainly prepare them in a skillet on the stove, going to the grill takes these superb summer sandwiches to the next level. 

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Grilled Ratatouille Skewers

Grilled Ratatouille Skewers Recipe

Greg DuPree